What are latest regulations on the procedures for administering lethal injection in the execution of the death penalty in Vietnam?

What are latest regulations on the procedures for administering lethal injection in the execution of the death penalty in Vietnam? - image from internet

According to Article 6 of Decree 43/2020/ND-CP (effective from April 15, 2020), the following provisions are stipulated:

1. The procedure for the execution of the death penalty must be carried out in accordance with the regulations in Articles 2, 3, and 4 of Law on the Execution of Criminal Judgments in 2019 and the provisions of this Decree.

2. The drugs used for the execution of the death penalty must be inspected, sealed, and recorded by the Council for the Execution of the Death Penalty as prescribed.

3.The person being executed must be fixed in a supine position on a bed, ensuring that blood circulation is not obstructed.

4. The officer directly executing the death penalty is responsible for the following steps:

a) Prepare three doses of medication (including two reserve doses).

b) Identify a vein for injection; if the vein cannot be identified, report to the Chairman of the Council for the Execution of the Death Penalty to request medical assistance in vein identification.

c) Insert the pre-connected syringe needle into the identified vein according to the procedure:

Step 1: Administer a drug to induce unconsciousness.

After administering the drug, the specialized officer conducting the execution must check if the person being executed has lost consciousness. If not, continue administering the drug until unconsciousness is achieved.

Step 2: Administer a drug to induce paralysis of the motor system.

Step 3: Administer a drug to stop the heart.

d) Monitor the person's heart activity using an electrocardiogram machine. If, after ten minutes, the person being executed has not died, the monitoring officer must report to the Chairman of the Council for the Execution of the Death Penalty to authorize the use of reserve medication.

After each administration of the reserve medication and if the person being executed has not died after ten minutes, the monitoring officer must report to the Chairman of the Council for the Execution of the Death Penalty to authorize the continuation of using a second or third dose of reserve medication.

If the third dose of reserve medication is administered and the person being executed has not died after ten minutes, the Team Leader of the Execution Team must report to the Chairman of the Council for the Execution of the Death Penalty to decide on the temporary suspension of the execution.

5. The steps prescribed in points b, c, and d of Clause 4 can be carried out automatically or directly.

6. Upon the Chairman's order, a forensic doctor examines and determines the condition of the person being executed and reports the results to the Council.

7. After the forensic doctor concludes that the person being executed has died, upon the Chairman's order, the execution officer stops the infusion, removes the syringe needle, and the tubing from the person being executed.

8. The Council for the Execution of the Death Penalty prepares a record according to the regulations regarding the death of the person being executed.

9. The procedures following the death of the person being executed are handled in accordance with the regulations in points e, g, and h, Clause 4, Article 82 and Article 83 of the Law on the Execution of Criminal Judgments in 2019.

Therefore, the process of executing the death penalty through lethal injection in Vietnam involves a complex procedure.

Above are latest regulations on the procedures for administering lethal injection in the execution of the death penalty in Vietnam.

Best regards!